Animal trap



H. A. REEB ANIMAL TRAP March 7, 1950 Filed May 28, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. A. REEB ANIMAL TRAP March 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1946 Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v ANIMAL TRAP Henry A. Reeb', Dixon, Calif. Application May 2.8, 1946, Serial No. 672,760

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a trap provided with tiltable means for releasing end gates simultaneously when the tiltable means are stepped upon by an animal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device having means whereby` the animals are caught alive and uninjured.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of one form of trap embodying features of the instant inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a 4sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along lthe line 3-3 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 1, the gate being shown closed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of a constructional detail.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of an additional constructional detail.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 'I--l of Figure 3, parts omitted.

Similar reference characters refer to Ysimilar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, there is generally indicated at Ill a wire enclosure including. a base II of solid material and provided with floor boards l2 extending from each end thereof towards the center, but stopping in spaced relation to provide accommodation for a tiltable plate I3 pivotally mounted, as on an axle I4, and spaced a distance above the base I I.

The enclosure also comprises side walls I and 3 Claims. (Cl. I3-.61)

a top I6 of foraminous material such as wire mesh.

The ends of the enclosure In are normally open,`

and the foraminous side walls are provided neartheir'ends with side plates Il within which ar'ef journaled the extremities of axles I8 pivotallysupporting gates I9. Each of the gates I9 is pro-u vided with side anges 20 and an inwardly turned. bottom flange 2| normally positioned interiorly of the cage.

Gate-latching members 25 are provided including loops 26 adapted `pivotally to surround one oi the strands of the ioraminous material of the top IB and provided with finger-engaging'por tions 2l extending exteriorly of the top. Whenf the trap is in closed position, the members 25 fall to the position shown in Figure 4 engaging the bottom flange 2l of the associated gate 'i9 in such manner as to securely hold the gate inv closed position. Both the gate I9 and the latching members 25 are adapted to be rotated 'in downward direction to close the trap by the force of gravity, and moved manually to their upper-'2 n most position, being secured in open position 'ini a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.y Referring back now to the tiltable plate I3,l it

will be seen that the plate is provided with van upwardly extending lug or ange 3|!l and a socket' 3| adjacent the flange in which seats the ex-`v4 tremity of an upright 32, suitable fastening means'- 33 also being provided at an intermediate point of the flange 3U therefor. The member 32 terminates at its upper extremity in a fork 34 extend-1n' ing upwardly through the top I9 of the'vcage.

Adapted to extend into the fork sa is a inember 3G provided with` a loop 3l at one extremity adapted for pivotal mounting, as on an axle 38, positioned on the top of the cage.

Thgmember 36 terminates in a reduced"ex' tremity 39 adapted to engage under a projection or detent 40, Figure '7, carried by an upright mem# ber 4I secured to the side I5 of the enclosure adjacent the lug 30 of the pivoted trip plate I3. Gate-retaining members generally indicated at 42 are provided, and veach includes a longitudinally 1 and 2, overlies the plate 46 attached to the other member 42, and the member 36 is then extended transversely across the juncture of the two members and its reduced extremity 39- engaged beneath the detent III).l Obviously.. with the parts in this position, the gates are retainedk in raised position. Suitable bait is then positioned on the trip plate I3, and the device is set.

When an animal enters the device fromy either end and steps upon the trip plate I3, tilting of, the, platev causes movement of the member 32 and support 34, which dislodges the reduced ex tremity 39A of the. member 3I from the detent 40,

thus permitting release of themembers 42 Which in turn permits the gates IS to fall by gravity., and,correspondngly, permitsthe fall ofthe gate" latching members 25. Thus, it will, be seen that an animal is secured against egress from. either endof the device, substantially immediately upon touching the` trip plate, the distance betweenthe. extremities of the trip plate. and the extremities ofthe trap being suiciently great` as to precludev thev animal escaping during the relatively short time required for the. gates to fall to latched position.

A carrying handle. 5.0 is also. provided for,` the. device and is suitably secured, as byV means of loops 5I engaging in the Wire mesh ofl the. top of the device to permit the article to be transported from place to place., Correspondingly, a. safety latch. is provided to hold the device in, set position during such transportation, and takes the.: form of a generally W-shaped member. 55,.

includingI axles 56 journaled in suitable brackets 5-1 on the top-of the device.. The central loop-58 of. thaw-shaped member 5.5` is adapted to, engage. on opposite sides of, the member 39 when the ax1e 56 is rotated, as by means of an offset hand crank 60 positioned on. one end thereof.4

Wheny it is desired to set.- the. latch., partial rotation of the crank 50 will.. cause. the., members 8l forming the opposite sides of' the. central loop. 58 to rise on4 opposite.- sidesof the member 3B,` thusk securing the. same against. dislodgement from4 its associated detent 4.0..

From the foregoing it. will now be seen that thereA is. herein providedv an improved animall trap which accomplishes all. the objects of this invention.

Since various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and' as various modifica@ tions may be made in the embodiment herein.-l before shown and described, it is to: be understood that all matter herein is. to bey interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an animal trap, an elongated receptacle having openings at each end, pivotally mounted gates adjacent each opening, means for supporting said gates in open positions, a pivoted plate in the center of the base of said receptacle, means carried by said plate for releasing said means for supporting said gates, said last-mentioned means including a bifurcated upright extending out of said receptacle, a trigger member positioned between the bifurcations and engaging said means for supporting said gates, and a detent member mounted upon the receptacle and engaging the trigger member to maintain the trap set until the pivoted plate is moved.

2. In an animal trap, an elongated receptacle having openings at each end, pivotally mounted gates adjacent each opening, means for supporting said gates in open positions, a pivoted plate in thecenter of thebase of said receptacle, means carried by said plate fory releasing said, meansfor supporting said gates said. last-mentioned means. including a bifurcated upright extending out of said receptacle, a trigger member posi tioned between the bifurcations and engaging;

said means` for supporting said; gates,. a detent member mounted uponl the receptacle. and en.-

gaging the trigger member to maintain the trap set, and lockv meansI for retaining saidi trigger against displacement, saidv lock means including.

a rotatable member having projections movable into engagement. with opposite. sides of said trigger.

3. An. animal` trap. comprising an. elongated receptacle havingv its opposite ends open, gates.-

pivotally mounted upon; the. receptacle near its.

open ends, means to support the gates in open positions', a pivoted element arranged near the center of the receptacle for movement by the.

animal, an upstanding membersecured to the pivoted. elementv and projecting above' the recep tacle, a trigger member pivotally secured to the top of the receptacle and extending transversely of and engaging the upstanding member and shiftable laterally by the upstanding member, the trigger member also engaging the means tc support the gates in open. positions, and a detent element mounted upon theA receptacle and engaging the trigger to maintainy the, trap set.

HENRY. A. REEB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are of. record in the file of. this4 patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,441,523; Pittman. Jan. 9, 1-923 G0 1,477,446 Reisiger Dec; 11, 1923. 1,614,396 Peck Jan'. 18 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country. Date` 425,212 Great Britain Mar.l 11, 1935 

